UFC 178 Predictions
As always the staff at MMASucka.com will make their predictions for the entire main card. As you can see from our overall running scores, some of us are much better than others. But without further ado, check out the MMASucka Staff Predictions.
Below are the scores after our UFC 175 picks. (We missed UFC 176 and UFC 177)
Allen – 37-16
Jeremy – 37-19
Justin – 37-21
Suraj – 27-9
Callum – 22-14
Thinesh – 10-7
Nick – 0-0
Mike – 0-0
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Staff Predictions: UFC 178
Demetrious Johnson vs. Chris Cariaso
Jeremy: I think this fight is as one-sided as a UFC fight could be. Demetrious Johnson is one of the most technical fighters in the promotion and the fact that he is defending his belt against Chris Cariaso is a bit of a slap in the face. I do think DJ will put a stoppage to this fight and it’ll be a hard thumping punch. Demetrious Johnson via TKO
Nick: The fact that Chris Cariaso is getting a title shot was a shocker, and still is a shocker and it’s even worse because he’s headlining potentially the biggest card of the year. That being said, at the time there was no one higher than him in the flyweight rankings that could step up at the time. Demetrious Johnson vs. Cariaso could be a decent and exciting fight for sure. It definitely has potential, but I don’t see it being a close fight, at all. A guy who is coming off of 3 wins over non-ranked fighters, versus one of the pound-for-pound fighters, Johnson? I see it ending any way, but only for Johnson. Demetrious Johnson via Unanimous Decision
Mike: On paper this is a mismatch, but I really don’t look at that way. Do I think Demetrious Johnson will win? Yes. Actually, I think Demetrious Johnson will finish Cariaso. But at the same time, Cariaso has been around. He has a win over Takeya Mizugaki, and lost a split to Mayday. With that being said, I don’t think you can go from Louis Smolka to Mighty Mouse. Cariaso won a split against Smolka in Ohio, and with all due respect, Smolka is no Demetrious Johnson. I think Cariaso will be scrappy, I expect him to really go for it and have his moments, but in the end I think one of the pound-for-pound best in Demetrious Johnson will finish him with strikes. Demetrious Johnson via TKO
Justin: It may be some slap-dash booking on the UFC’s part, but I’m not quite as down on this as many in the MMA Media are. Cariaso is a tough out, even if he’s not a finisher. However, he can be finished, and Demetrious Johnson has a particular set of skills that can finish “Kamikaze.” Expect the champ to retain by submission in the later rounds. Demetrious Johnson via Submission
Suraj: There really is not much to say about this fight. Nothing against Chris Cariaso, but Demetrious Johnson is proving to be one of the most underrated champions in UFC history. Why? While everyone was enjoying the rise of Jon Jones, and the title runs of Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre, it seemed difficult for people to notice just how good Mighty Mouse really was, myself included. The more you watch him, and the more you notice his constant improvement, the more you realize he could contend for the pound-for-pound title. With that said, I don’t believe Chris Cariaso is the next TJ Dillashaw. Demetrious Johnson via Round 2 TKO
Callum: No, this isn’t the main event anyone asked for. No, this isn’t the flyweight title challenger anyone asked for. However, as an MMA nerd I relish the opportunity to see Demetrious Johnson every chance I get because he is arguably the most technically talented fighter in the UFC today. I’ve written more on this here, but this main event is worth your time. It’s a perfect bit of variety and balance on a strong card. Demetrious Johnson via TKO, round 3
Allen: Chris Cariaso will have his moments, but this is another throwaway fight. He gets taken down far too often and relies on his striking, which doesn’t possess much power. Demetrious Johnson’s speed and footwork is at another level. You never see him get tired at any moment either. Then he closes the distance at a wicked pace that flusters his opponent towards being defeated mentally. He’s a matchup nightmare because he truly has no flaws. I’m expecting another commanding performance from the champion. Demetrious Johnson via TKO
Thinesh: Demetrious Johnson is the best 125-pounder in the world today and Chris Cariaso will find it difficult to maneuver past Johnson’s impeccable footwork and all-rounded skill-set. After all, I feel ‘Mighty Mouse’ has been overshadowed by the champions in the upper weight classes and the fact that people don’t really care about fighters in the lower divisions really underestimates his qualities as a fighter. Johnson honestly deserves his spot in the top pound-for-pound rankings and as a fighter with almost no visible holes in his game, I’ll expect him to lay a 25-minute beatdown on Cariaso who might well have to set up the barricades in this one. Demetrious Johnson via Unanimous Decision
Donald Cerrone vs. Eddie Alvarez
Jeremy: Eddie Alvarez is one of the most highly anticipated signings in recent UFC history and without a doubt he is being thrown to the wolves. The top talent he has faced in his mixed martial arts career is Michael Chandler and Pat Curran. Neither of those two are at the caliber of Donald Cerrone, heck they aren’t even close. So if we do see Alvarez win this, it will be a huge step forward, however I don’t see that happening. Donald Cerrone via Submission
Nick: I’m super excited for this fight, as fan favorite Donald Cerrone is taking on former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez, two top lightweights in the world. Cerrone has been on a roll lately, and Alvarez has champion credentials. A boxer versus a kickboxer. Do not miss this one, ladies and gentlemen. In my opinion, this is the closest fight on the card. I’m leaning towards Cerrone on this one, but it’s very close for me. Donald Cerrone via TKO
Mike: I cannot even express how excited I am for this fight. Eddie Alvarez, one of my favorite fighters taking on arguably the most exciting lightweight on the planet in Donald Cerrone. This has Fight of the Night written all over it. I can not make a confident prediction here to be perfect honest. But I am leaning towards Eddie Alvarez. Eddie has great boxing, solid wrestling and an aggressive top game. He is known to get rocked early in majority of his fights, but if his defense is on point, I think he’ll mix up his striking and wrestling better than Cerrone. Eddie Alvarez via Unanimous Decision
Justin: See this fight? This could be a UFC on FOX main event, but here it is, c0-main eventing a pay per view. Anyways, both men are dangerous finishers, with Cerrone notching more submissions and Alvarez scoring more KOs. “Cowboy” trains at a gym with a lot less turmoil, though, as Alvarez’ Blackzillian camp has been dealing with domestic abusing members. So, given that little bit of insight, I’m going with my gut and picking Donald Cerrone. Donald Cerrone via Submission
Suraj: I am a huge Donald Cerrone fan and believe these are the types of fights he loves. Someone is entering his stomping ground and he would love nothing more than to put him in his place. Eddie Alvarez has been considered the best outside the UFC for quite some time and is finally getting his chance to fight on the big stage. However, my problem with this is Joe Silva did not feel like testing him one bit, and gave him a top fighter who is going to trouble him significantly. Does Alvarez have the skill to topple Cerrone? I really don’t think so. Alvarez’s biggest asset in this fight is his heart, but I still don’t think that will get him very far. Donald Cerrone via TKO
Callum: This fight is very, very intriguing. Eddie Alvarez is finally in the UFC, about 18 months late, and is facing one of the toughest fighters in the UFC’s lightweight division. Donald Cerrone has been in the form of his life this year, looking as good as he did before his loss to Nate Diaz in 2011. With four wins, four finishes and four bonuses in the past 12 months I doubt Cerrone will want to end that streak any time soon. However, it could be argued that Cerrone has never beaten someone as talented as Alvarez. The truth is, this is the first categorical test we will have of Alvarez’ ability – however he has looked awesome in many of his Bellator fights and his series with Chandler featured two classic fights. A very tough one to call. Donald Cerrone via Split Decision
Allen: Donald Cerrone’s tendency to start slow concerns me in this fight. While Eddie Alvarez isn’t necessarily a fast starter, he always remains aggressive. He knows how to push the pace and control the octagon. As dynamic as Cerrone is, he hasn’t faced someone that has great striking and fights at a fast pace like Alvarez in quite some time. This will be one of those fights where you realize why Cerrone can’t get over the hump. He isn’t great at making adjustments in between rounds. Alvarez is far more well rounded and will make a statement here. Eddie Alvarez via TKO
Thinesh: My pick for Fight of the Night. Pardon the kid in me, but I’m just itching to see both these fighters go at it. Eddie Alvarez finally makes his long awaited debut in the best 155-lbs weight class in the world and Cerrone is the perfect foe to welcome the former Bellator vet on board. I once criticized Cerrone for his lack of consistency, not actually knowing if the right ‘Cowboy’ was actually going to show up, mostly because of his tendency to have some ‘off nights’. Cerrone, though, has brushed off those claims in recent times and while Alvarez will legitimately pose a threat, I think the jitters might eventually get to him, and I fancy Cerrone to irk one out with a lopsided call. Donald Cerrone via Unanimous Decision
Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier
Jeremy: Much like Alvarez, Conor McGregor is a huge star not only in his own mind, but in the UFC’s as well. He has looked flashy in all three of his UFC bouts, however they were against Diego Brandao, Max Holloway and Marcus Brimage. Will he have the goods to beat Dustin Poirier? Maybe and I think it’s more the way he acts that has people drinking the “McGregor Juice.” I myself have jumped on that hype train and while I’m not sure how he is going to finish Poirier or if he even could, but I’m picking him nonetheless. Conor McGregor via ?
Nick: Everyone wants to see this fight, it’s the most anticipated fight on the card by a long shot. Both are coming off of spectacular TKO victories, and both are top 10 fighters. There’s one fighter, though, that I see as a better fighter than the other, who could easily be a champion one day. No, his name isn’t Conor McGregor, sorry about that. Dustin Poirier via Unanimous Decision
Mike: Probably the most difficult fight for me to predict on the entire card here. It’s getting most of the praise, but I don’t think it will unfold the way people expect. I think it will be a rather uneventful fight. Neither guy wants to lose to the other. Both guys truly believe they are better than the opposition. McGregor has been on point lately, but he has ever fought someone as talented as Dustin Poirier. With that being said; regardless of how solid either guys ground game is, I expect this fight to be contested primarily on the feet, and there, McGregor is unorthodox in his movement and in his strikes, so I could see it presenting problems for Dustin. Conor McGregor via Unanimous Decision
Justin: The outcome of this fight all depends on just how deep under the skin of Dustin Poirier that Conor McGregor can get. If “The Notorious” can bait “The Diamond” into coming at him, it could be a short night for Louisana native Poirier. McGregor is a good counter-striker, and has enough unorthodox attacks from range to make his opponent get angry, rush in, and get caught. Conor McGregor by TKO
Suraj: It’s amazing what nice tattoos, slick hairdos and beards, and 11 first round knock outs can get you in the MMA world. One of the fastest rising stars of the UFC, Conor McGregor has earned himself a name in just three UFC victories. This will be his first time on a PPV card and he seems poised to make the most of it. Why I think this fight is so interesting is both fighters have yet to be knocked out, and both love to throw the leather. Does professional fighting really get any better than that for the average fan? This has fight of the night written all over it and, unless one of these guys go to sleep, we’re in for another classic war. Conor McGregor via Split Decision
Callum: After just three fights against opponents nowhere close to top ten calibre, Conor McGregor has established himself as arguably the biggest star in the featherweight division (only possibly beaten by Frankie Edgar). However, in Dustin Poirier he is fighting someone with more talent than a lot of his previous opponents combined. The thing is, Conor McGregor also hasn’t showed us what he is really capable of yet and that is the really annoying thing – I genuinely think he is at least almost as good as he thinks he is. He came into MMA as a boxer, and has developed a well rounded MMA skill set that could very well give any opponent trouble. He is the best UFC prospect in years, and the UFC have acknowledged this and pushed him to the moon. Conor McGregor via Unanimous Decision
Allen: Dustin Poirier has shown drastic improvements in his stand-up in recent fights. The issue is that he seems to be a bit over-confident. His hands were lower than usual against Diego Brandao and Akira Corassani. He paid for it by being knocked down by both fighters. While he’s talented, I’m questioning his mindset. Will he only look for the knockout? Conor McGregor’s footwork and overall combinations are outstanding. You rarely see him flat footed and stays unpredictable throughout his fights. If Poirier utilized more takedowns to go along with his well-versed ground game, I’d be more confident in choosing him. I see him looking to stand-and-trade at will against McGregor, which will prove to be costly. Conor McGregor via TKO
Thinesh: My fellow suckas have gone with Conor McGregor and I couldn’t agree more. McGregor is one of the hottest commodities on the UFC roster right now and has looked nothing but impressive in all his outings to date. And to earn such a reputation and garner lots of chatter in just three fights is quite a feat, I must say. Dustin Poirier, though, is by far his toughest challenge to date and you could even argue that this might be some sort of a step-up for the Irishman, but I believe McGregor’s developed great hands and a good grappling game that should be enough to see him through. Make no mistake about Poirier’s chances, he’s no slouch by a long shot; However, it will take a lot to topple arguably the fastest rising prospect in UFC history and I just can’t see him doing that. Conor McGregor via Unanimous Decision
Tim Kennedy vs. Yoel Romero
Jeremy: I have spoken to Nick about this fight a few times and he is such a huge Romero fan, that it makes me want Kennedy to win even more 😉 I think this fight is going to be a case of who can get it to the ground first. There is no way Kennedy is letting Romero off his back if he gets him there and I think he will. Tim Kennedy via Unanimous Decision
Nick: Two top middleweights, a very stacked division. Yoel Romero is an absolute beast, he’s scary good. In his mid-thirties, can you imagine if he kicked his MMA career off a decade ago? I think he would’ve had champion written all over him. That being said, he’s setup to face a possible contender who’s coming off a huge win over Michael Bisping, and his name is Tim Kennedy. Both have amazing wrestling, Romero being an Olympic level wrestler. This could make for a boring fight, depending how things go. No matter what though, I’m really looking forward to these 185ers getting at it. Yoel Romero via TKO
Mike: The MMA world is very high on Yoel Romero right now, but I am not. I don’t view him as a future champion or even a top 10 for that matter. I don’t think Tim Kennedy has a belt in his future either, but I think Kennedy is the far more complete fighter. I could be wrong, but I think the best Yoel Romero we are going to see is the one that fought Tavares, and I expect Tim Kennedy to beat that Yoel Romero. Both guys have good wrestling, but on the feet I view Kennedy as the better overall striker while giving Romero the obvious edge in power. I think it will be a solid middleweight contest, but my prediction has not changed from when this fight first got announced. Tim Kennedy via Split Decision
Justin: Yoel Romero and Tim Kennedy are as opposite stylistically as you can get. Romero is very much the embodiment of raw power, while Kennedy is the personification of surgical precision. The question is, which will prevail? Will the patient sniper Kennedy be able to use the holes in the defense of Cuban offensive dynamo to take home another W? Or will “The Soldier of God” be able to use the US Special Forces seargent’s unflappable calm against him and steamroll to another victory? In situations like this, I go with the sniper. Tim Kennedy via Unanimous Decision
Suraj: With how stacked this card seems, I really believe this is the most underrated fight on the card. Tim Kennedy is defining silent assassin as he quietly makes his way to the top of the middleweight division. He has won four straight, including a decision win over Michael Bisping, and seems to be ready to take his career to the next level. Yoel Romero is the talk of the town right now but I just don’t see him at Kennedy’s level. He has not fought very tough competition and is at a great disadvantage on the ground. If technique becomes the name of the game, which is usually does, I just don’t see Romero ready for such a tough opponent. Tim Kennedy via Unanimous Decision
Callum: Man, the cool fights on this card keep on coming. I really dig this. Tim Kennedy put on one of the most impressive wrestling displays in a long time as he dominated Michael Bisping back in April, but in Yoel Romero he is facing an Olympic level wrestler – though an Olympic level wrestler who is often guilty of falling in love with his hands. This one will come down to strategy, and good strategy comes with experience. Tim Kennedy via Unanimous Decision
Allen: Out of all the competitive fights on the card, this is the toughest fight to choose from. Romero continues to evolve dramatically as a mixed martial artist. You add on the fact that Kennedy is somewhat undersized and Romero is a freak athlete, who is a world-class wrestler. This should be Romero’s fight to lose. His striking is still raw though and tends to get careless by going for flashy kicks or knees. He could get away with that against someone like Brad Tavares. Kennedy is a battle-tested veteran and knows how to take capitalize on his opponent’s mistakes. His cardio is among the best in the division and will aid him in slowing down Romero. This will be close, but Kennedy will control the fight just enough to pull off another solid win. Tim Kennedy via Unanimous Decision
Thinesh: Damn, how stacked is this card?! This was my hardest pick, and for good reason. Kennedy’s bread and butter lies in his wrestling abilities but with that said, Romero happens to be an Olympian with a massive wrestling pedigree. Quite something, huh? I don’t think a respectful Kennedy will shoot for a takedown on Romero or vice versa so they’ll probably cancel each other out on that front but if the fight does hit the mat, I feel Kennedy’s experience will come to great effect. Kennedy’s cardio is second to none and he’ll keep looking for submissions and transitions. Romero’s best shot will probably be on his feet, where he’ll be looking for that one significant to blow to knock his Kennedy out senseless. However, it’s not often we see that one shot land when we want it to and I believe Kennedy will constantly be on the move, in and out of range, tiring Romero down before outpointing him for decision victory. Tim Kennedy via Unanimous Decision
Cat Zingano vs. Amanda Nunes
Jeremy: Zingano gets to earn back what is rightfully hers with a victory over Amanda Nunes in this UFC 178 bout. Kicking off the pay-per-view, “Alpha” will prove that she is the true number one contender in the UFC women’s bantamweight division and earn her shot at Ronda Rousey’s belt. Cat Zingano via Unanimous Decision
Nick: Anything can happen in MMA, but if everything plays out based off of skill, Zingano should pull off the victory. She’s the overall better fighter, the #1 Women’s Bantamweight fighter, just under Ronda Rousey. Nunes is no cake-walk, and it could be a good fight. In my eyes, though, it’ll be a dominant win for Cat. Cat Zingano via Unanimous Decision
Mike: Amanda Nunes is a beast. Having a lengthy absence against someone like Nunes would usually spell disaster, but I think Cat Zingano is on another level. I don’t expect it to be easy, but I expect Zingano to walk away the victor, getting a fight with Ronda Rousey in early 2015. Cat Zingano via Unanimous Decision
Justin: While Cat’s been away, “Leoa” has come out to play, with Amanda Nunes surging into the upper ranks of the UFC’s women’s bantamweight division. Zingano is a strong wrestler with decent striking, but can sometimes have trouble because of slow starts. Nunes comes hard right out of the gate, and has the kind of heavy hands that could spoil “Alpha’s” return. Amanda Nunes via TKO
Suraj: Destiny is an interesting concept. When you consider the competition in the Women’s Bantamweight division, there is simply nobody left for Ronda Rousey. Miesha Tate was fun while it lasted, but she was always supposed to play second fiddle to Cat Zingano, after losing to her back in April of last year. Zingano was always supposed to fight Rousey, and I think destiny will wave it’s ugly hand and give her a free pass come fight night. Cat Zingano via TKO
Callum: Cat Zingano, robbed of her duly earned title shot, now faces a dangerous up and comer in a bid to reclaim what was already hers. Funny how these things work out. I’m pulling for Cat Zingano because if there is any justice in the world, she’ll come out on top. I also think she has the experience and the rounded skill set to get the job done. Cat Zingano via Unanimous Decision
Allen: This is a scary matchup for Zingano to take. She’s undersized as a bantamweight and was controlled by Miesha Tate for the majority of the first two rounds. Nunes is wild, but she’s relentless and tenacious with her attacks. Zingano may have shown resiliency against Tate, but she won’t be able to endure Nunes wrath. Eventually Nunes will get her down and pass to a favorable position on the ground. From that point on, Zingano will be in survival mode. While Nunes is prone to fading, we won’t see that happen here. Amanda Tunes via TKO
Thinesh: Amanda Nunes’ padwork once scared me and while someone told me her coach made her look good, I begged to differ. Nunes has dangerous strikes and on top of it, she’s relentless and you can expect her to hunt Zingano down. Zingano, meanwhile, will be looking to claim what’s hers and that’s a shot at the seemingly invincible Ronda Rousey. While her Brazilian compatriot is going to be quite a challenge, I think Zingano’s experience and tools should be enough to get her through. Cat Zingano via Unanimous Decision
[Just picks]
Dominick Cruz vs. Takeya Mizugaki
Jeremy: Dominick Cruz via Unanimous Decision
Nick: Dominick Cruz via Unanimous Decision
Mike: Dominick Cruz via Unanimous Decision
Suraj: Dominick Cruz via Unanimous Decision
Justin: Dominick Cruz via Unanimous Decision
Callum: Dominick Cruz via Split Decision
Allen: Dominick Cruz via Unanimous Decision
Thinesh: Takeya Mizugaki via Split Decision
Jorge Masvidal vs. James Krause
Jeremy: James Krause via Submission
Nick: Jorge Masvidal via Unanimous Decision
Mike: James Krause via Unanimous Decision
Suraj: Jorge Masvidal via TKO
Justin: James Krause via Submission
Callum: Jorge Masvidal via TKO
Allen: Jorge Masvidal via Unanimous Decision
Thinesh: Jorge Masvidal via Unanimous Decision
Patrick Cote vs. Stephen Thompson
Jeremy: Stephen Thompson via Unanimous Decision
Nick: Patrick Cote via Unanimous Decision
Mike: Patrick Cote via Unanimous Decision
Suraj: Patrick Cote via TKO
Justin: Patrick Cote via Unanimous Decision
Callum: Stephen Thompson via Unanimous Decision
Allen: Stephen Thomson via Unanimous Decision
Thinesh: Stephen Thomson via Unanimous Decision
John Howard vs. Brian Ebersole
Jeremy: John Howard via TKO
Nick: John Howard via TKO
Mike: John Howard via TKO
Suraj: John Howard via Unanimous Decision
Justin: John Howard via TKO
Callum: John Howard via TKO
Allen: John Howard via TKO
Thinesh: Brian Ebersole via Unanimous Decision
John Tuck vs. Kevin Lee
Jeremy: Jon Tuck via Unanimous Decision
Nick: Kevin Lee via Unanimous Decision
Mike: Kevin Lee via Unanimous Decision
Suraj: Kevin Lee via Split Decision
Justin: Jon Tuck via TKO
Callum: Jon Tuck via TKO
Allen: Kevin Lee by Unanimous Decision
Thinesh: Jon Tuck via TKO
Manvel Gamburyan vs. Cody Gibson
Jeremy: Manvel Gamburyan via Unanimous Decision
Nick: Cody Gibson via Unanimous Decision
Mike: Cody Gibson via Submission
Suraj: Manvel Gamburyan via Unanimous Decision
Justin: Cody Gibson via Unanimous Decision
Callum: Manvel Gamburyan via Unanimous Decision
Allen: Manvel Gamburyan via Unanimous Decision
Thinesh: Manvel Gamburyan via Unanimous Decision
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